O/S = Win98SE. Type of device =Generic IDE type 00. Error message = "This device is not working properly because a device it depends on  Secondary Bus master IDE controller (dual fifo) has been dynamically disabled. "To view-----". Via  Technologies INC. http://www.via.com.tw/en/support/drivers.jsp I can answer all of the required fields except "product". Is this something that can be solved via a BIOS value change or is it likely i need some drivers? If so how do i answer the "product" from the list provided in the link? truenorthI have determined some additional info which may be relevant to the above. When i go to "system properties" under the performance tab there are 2 separate entries.
1.compatibility mode paging reduces overall system performance.
2.Drive C is USING MS-Dos compatibility mode file system.
I have viewed the associated windows "help" notations for these two entries.
hope this assists,truenorth
Are you looking for more detailed information to identify your system hardware?
Programs like System Info for Windows http://www.gtopala.com/ or Belarc Advisor http://belarc.com/free_download.html are helpful.
Sorry, I'm not much help in troubleshooting IDE controllers. Does Device Manager shows any hardware problems?
 BROMIDE , thank you for your reply.No at the moment i am not looking for more hardware info re this particular PROBLEM. Yes i do have error messages in the device manager. They are exactly as listed in my original post. The first error is beside the Generic IDE type 00 (which is under "disk drives") and has a red "X" on the disk icon. The second error is a yellow asterisk under the "hard disk controllers" over the "secondary Bus master IDE controller( dual fifo). The actual problem i am having is that a second physical HDD (slave) is not functioning. I believe the errors and their "windows help" statements are telling me why it doesn't work. It appears that something from the "Via" web site (enclosed in o/p ) is needed. But as stated i don't know what it is and i need to define from their list a "product" (from their offered choices). Once i can get that particular HDD working i intend to install an alternative O/S on it. I have already successfully upgraded the RAM to permit the O/S installation. This problem has existed prior to the RAM increase however.truenorth
Is there additional information that you wizards need in order to provide some suggestions on this one? It is about to pass into oblivion without a proposed solution.In my continuing quest to resolve the issue identified in this post i have uncovered the following
http://download.cnet.com/motherboard-driver-chipset-via-hypro-exe/3000-18492_4-169257.html
Does this look like a possible solution to my problem. I will need to download it (if i should) from one computer and then try to install it on the affected win98SE machine.truenorth
P.S. Or maybe this:
"I used to have the same problems as you people. What I did was went to the device manager tab, then hard disk controllers, and removed them, and then restarted my computer. Then windows detected new hardware and installed it. Then I went back to the hard disk controller tab, RIGHT clicked on my intel..., and went to properties, then settings. On mine, I had to set the setting for "Both IDE channels enabled." I hope this will help you people a little. E-mail me for any questions."